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The Beaches of Biarritz, France

"The beaches of Biarritz are renowned as some of the best in Europe"

Biarritz's six-kilometre coastline boasts six beaches punctuated by jagged curves and cliffs. The beaches (les plages) of Biarritz are renowned as some of the best in Europe and have been rewarded several times for their top class standards. There are several big sandy beaches, each with a distinct flavour and history, but all equally popular with swimmers, surfers, children, families, elderly couples – in short, everyone. French language students often choose Biarritz as the place to study French simply because of the wonderful beaches!

The plage Miramar of Biarritz

The most fashionable beach in Biarritz !

The most northern of Biarritz’s beaches, the Plage Miramar was used exclusively by the 1930s-built Miramar Hotel which graces its shoreline. Previously known as Plage Bernain, this beach was hugely popular in the 1930s and is still the most fashionable of the beaches. Surfing is not allowed on this beach.

Plage Miramar has a paved path leading through beautiful gardens, carved rock and vista points and offers great views of the lighthouse, a famous Biarritz landmark. Frégate Rock, a sanctuary colonized by gulls and cormorants, faces the beach.

The Winston Churchill Passage links Plage Miramar with the Grande Plage to the south. This delightful beach promenade lined with gardens, shops, and restaurants is the strolling place for young and old, chic and grunge, families and lovers, and of course the loyal French companion, the dog!

La Grande Plage of Biarritz

Surfing, water sports, sunbathing and people watching !

Located in the heart of Biarritz, the Grand Plage is Biarritz’s classic beach with a fascinating history. Known as the Côte des Fous (lunatic coast) in the 17th century, psychiatric patients were brought here to bathe in the seawater for its therapeutic effects. It later became the Windmill Coast until 1858 when it was named the Plage de L'Impératrice after Empress Eugénie. With the fall of the Empire in 1871 it was renamed the Grande Plage (the Main Beach).

Often considered the most beautiful beach in Biarritz, it stretches from the Hôtel du Palais in the north to the Hôtel Le Bellevue in the south.The breathtaking view of cliffs, endless blue ocean, lighthouse, colourful carnival tents and well-groomed sand will never fail to take your breath away.

The Grande Plage is a hot spot for surfing, water sports, sunbathing and people watching!

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Plage du Port-Vieux, Biarritz

A natural tidal pool sheltered by rocks

On the south side of Biarritz near the town centre is the beautiful natural tidal pool at Plage du Port-Vieux. This was the first of the Biarritz beaches to install canvas tents for changing which were later replaced by huts built on piles. In 1858, under instruction from Napoleon III, a bathing shelter was erected. It was replaced in 1924 by a more solid building in concrete which was destroyed by bombing during WW II.

Tucked under the rocky mass of the Atalaye plateau where the art-deco Musée de la Mer nestles among blue hydrangeas, the Plage du Port-Vieux is a natural tidal pool sheltered by rocks on both sides which are exposed at low tide. This small safe beach appeals to families with young children.

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Plage de la Côte des Basques, Biarritz

This is the beach where European surfing began !

Lying south of the Plage du Port-Vieux. this is the surfers’ favourite beach and home to the annual Biarritz Surf Festival. Biarritz’s biggest and most famous stretch of sand, the Plage de la Côte des Basques offers views of the Pyrénées, a decently deep stretch of sea, and often a peaceful break from the rest of the town, not to mention excellent surfing! This is the beach where European surfing began and it is used by BLS for our French + Surf programme as it provides surfers with a wide variety of waves suited to different abilities.

Surfing is only recommended at low tide because there is no sand at high tide and the rocks can make access in and out of the ocean difficult.

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Marbella beach, Biarritz

This pretty beach is further south and away from Biarritz town centre, making it a less-crowded alternative.

Milady beach, Biarritz

This large beach is the most south of Biarritz’s beaches and offers parking facilities and a playground. The shore break can sometimes be dangerous.

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